Harden surpasses $500 million in career earnings: record extension

James Harden and the Cleveland Cavaliers are moving forward together. The Beard has agreed to a new three-year, $97 million contract, with a player option for the 2028-29 season and a trade kicker. The extension could take Harden into his 20th NBA season and allows the Cavs to continue building around the pairing of the former MVP and Donovan Mitchell.

Harden turns 37 on Aug. 26 and, with this agreement, will become just the second player in NBA history, after LeBron James, to sign for more than $90 million guaranteed at age 37 or older. But there is another financial milestone that is set to make headlines.

Harden on track for $500 million in NBA earnings

Before the new contract, James Harden had accumulated approximately $414 million in NBA salary. By completing the three-year deal with Cleveland, he will therefore surpass $500 million in total career earnings.

A threshold that also reflects the longevity of the superstars from the latest generation. LeBron James and Kevin Durant have already surpassed it, while Stephen Curry is on track to reach the mark with the $62.5 million he is set to earn under his contract this season. Paul George and Joel Embiid could join them further down the line.

The 2018 MVP, a three-time NBA scoring champion and two-time assists leader, Harden has already built a Hall of Fame career. Now Cleveland is giving him three more years to chase what is still missing from his résumé: his first NBA championship.